Modification means to change or add to the meaning of something. Adjectives, adverbs, nouns, phrases, and clauses all act as modifiers. They give more information or describe other words in a sentence. Modifiers must be placed as close as possible to the word or words they modify, or the sentence may be confusing.

Examples:

Prepositional phrase modifier:

 There is a lovely vase of roses on the table.

Adjective modifier:

 The vase was filled with sweet smelling, fresh lavender roses.

Adverb clause modifier:

 While you were at the store, I placed a vase of fresh roses on the table for you

Errors:

There are three basic types of modification errors:  squinting modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and dangling modifiers.

To find out more about the three types of modifiers, click on one of them.   If you wish to do some practice work with modification, click on this link.

 

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